She is a [redacted] Putin supporter. Supports Russian invasion of Ukraine as well. Hell, the whole thing is probably financed by Russian government. "Folk hero", my ass.
Any support for Russia and Putin are orthogonal to her work with Sci-Hub. But given that you brought it up, I gotta say that broad support for Putin is entirely understandable. Russia has been through hell. Millions killed during WWII. Bankrupted by the Cold War. Humiliated after the collapse of the Soviet Union. To many Russians, he is a hero.
Those are Russians who essentially crave authoritarian dictatorship and don't mind few victims here and there. Your analysis or Russian hell somehow managed to ignore hell caused by Russian own dictators.